Will the Mavs make the playoffs next year?

Looking at the Mavs roster and the fact that they've done so poorly in free agency at this point, will they even make the playoffs next year?

Now they've lost Jason Kidd and Jason Terry. Most of the guys they have left are getting long in the tooth. I guess Rodrigue Beaubois will get a chance to shine again for the Mavs next season and unless he pulls out an all star level performance they may not even make the playoffs.

Goran Dragic – Pick originally owned by the Toronto Raptors
On draft night in 2007 the Toronto Raptors traded their 2008 second-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for the rights to Giorgos Printezis, who to this day has still never played in the NBA. The Spurs then proceeded to flip the pick to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the draft rights to Malik Hairston and a 2009 second-round pick of the Golden State Warriors, which the Suns acquired in a trade for Zarko Cabarkapa.

Nando De Colo – Pick originally owned by the Houston Rockets
The Luis Scola trade will haunt the San Antonio Spurs for the rest of their livelihoods. Restricted by ownerships’ hard stance against paying the luxury tax, the Spurs were forced to trade Scola to Houston for Vassilis Spanoulis, cash, and a future second-round pick after not being able to come to agreement on a contract with him. This came in the summer of 2007 after winning their fourth championship; they haven’t won one since.

Kyrie Irving – Pick originally owned by the Los Angeles Clippers
There was a great debate over whether or not the Clippers should have protected the 2011 first-round pick that the paired with Baron Davis in exchange for Jamario Moon and Mo Williams (for a detailed breakdown of exactly why the Clippers couldn’t protect the pick, read Larry Coon’s article here). Due to significant restrictions and hurdles, though, they let go of the potential top-10 pick in a draft they felt was relatively weak anyway.

Nerlens is no Anthony Davis, but if you are looking for a fair comparison to Noel, it might be Lakers center Dwight Howard. Equally as raw offensively coming into the process, Noel is a big, long, athletic player who is an instinctual shot blocker. He desperately needs quality coaching and a solid weight program, both of which he should get at Kentucky.

If Cody shows improvement, which most assume he will, it’s going to be hard not to justify him in the top three in 2013. A lot of that will depend on who is picking in the top, but from a skill and size point of view Zeller might be the most known quantity in the top of the class.

The Orlando Magic held their media day this afternoon, and while many have already written off the rebuilding Magic, Harrington says losing is not going to be acceptable. He talks with USA Today Sports about his new team, being the underdog yet again, the mentality of the Magic this season and more in this exclusive interview:

Head coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t say where James is exactly feeling sore from, but he says the injury isn’t anywhere near serious. The Heat have been planning to rest James from a couple of the preseason games this month, anyways.

It’s easy for us to forget that, halfway through last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, many of us were writing off the Miami HEAT as title contenders. They weren’t doing well in their series against the Indiana Pacers, who seemed to have them on the ropes. Then, of course, LeBron James and Co. flipped a switch and started their unstoppable run to the NBA championship.

“When I get on a treadmill or run the street or ride my bike or whatever it may be, I have so many different motivations,” he said. “Whether you are on the road or at home, old or young, I want to beat you no matter what it is, and I’ll find some way to get some type of advantage on you. So that is always going to exist in me no matter.

“He is a basketball player,” Wittman said. “He gets to the free throw line, he can spread the floor, put the ball on the floor and play pick-and-roll. He’s got a lot of different things that he can do and is not really labeled as a guy who can only do a certain thing.”

After winning the 2011 title, Nowitzki and the Mavericks took a notable step back last season, getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Nowitzki dealt with conditioning issues but still managed to average 21.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. The hope was that a newly fit Nowitzki plus a roster that added a few younger, more athletic players — including guards Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo — could make another postseason push.

The Miami Heat are planning to limit LeBron James‘ minutes as much as possible for this year’s preseason so he can be ready to go for the regular season. It’s apparent that James has been gassed out this summer with the NBA Finals and then a little weeks rest until two months filled with Olympics basketball.

While each has shown flashes of being solid contributors in this league, both have much to prove heading into their first season with the Suns. In both Beasley’s and Johnson’s favor is that the Suns organization is focused on moving forward and not looking back at past mistakes.

“I think it’s just the feel of everything here that the Phoenix Suns have brought me into,” Johnson said. “From the front office, down to the coaches and especially my teammates, they all tell me to shoot the ball and have confidence in myself so it’s really rolling over to the court. Especially when you have those guys on your side, it’s definitely a confidence booster.

The Rockets have been looking for a way to move Martin, one of the last remnants of the Rick Adelman era in Houston, and the Thunder were looking to avoid the maximum contract discussion that Harden’s camp was trying to have. This deal accomplishes both things, and also gives the Thunder depth and draft picks in the deal.sdfadfa

“I’m still in Texas, so that’s cool,” Curry told HOOPSWORLD. “It’s a great organization and I’m extremely appreciative for this opportunity that Coach [Rick] Carlisle gave me, that Mark Cuban gave me, Donnie [Nelson] and everybody from top to bottom. It’s a great opportunity for me and I’m just extremely appreciative.”s4334

In order for Curry to stick in Dallas, the Mavericks would have to complete a buyout or waive West, then make the decision that Curry is the right player to keep moving forward. Like Curry told HOOPSWORLD, the ultimate decision will be with the Mavericks as to whether or not the 10-year vet gets a shot at redemption in Dallas.bsdfg43443